Throughout its relatively short first season, several characters in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms undergo huge changes and growth. For example, Ser Duncan the Tall, a.k.a. Dunk (Peter Claffey) ends up adopting a new squire, the young Prince Aegon Targaryen, better known as "Egg," (Dexter Sol Ansell), to accompany him on his journeys, Prince Valarr Targaryen (Oscar Morgan) ends up heir to the Iron Throne, and his father, Prince Baelor Targaryen (Bertie Carvell), ends up, well, dead.
Dunk's trial of seven against Prince Aerion Targaryen (Finn Bennett), while seemingly a small, self-contained battle, changes the fate of Westeros in more ways than one. However, the season finale of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, "The Morrow," primarily focuses on how it changes the fighters and others personally affected by the clash between the dragon prince and the hedge knight. This perspective marks one of the biggest differences between A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and its two predecessor shows on HBO, Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, which would have used their longer episode runtimes to focus more on the implications for the realm as a whole.
Amid these huge instances of character growth, two cast members in particular emerged from the season as the clear "winners." One came from nothing, and the other felt like an afterthought, but by the season's end, they seem set on the path for a wonderful new life together.
Raymun Fossoway, from squire to green apple
When audiences first meet Raymun Fossoway (Shaun Thomas), he's under the thumb of his cousin, Ser Steffon Fossoway (Edward Ashley), serving as his squire. Steffon, a member of the main branch of House Fossoway, constantly pushes around his younger cousin.
When Steffon steps up to fight alongside Dunk in the trial of seven, Raymun is happy to see his cousin fight for what's right. However, when Steffon sells out his honor for a lordship, switching to Aerion's side instead, Raymun is appalled at Steffon's lack of convictions. The younger Fossoway takes Steffon's place on Dunk's dream team, with Ser Lyonel Baratheon (Daniel Ings) quickly knighting him so he can fight in the trial.
During the trial, Raymun repaints his shield, changing the red apple of House Fossoway to a green one, in order to differentiate himself from Steffon on the battlefield. This results in a new branch of the noble house, House Fossoway of New Barrell, also known as "the Green Apple Fossoways." As such, Raymun has advanced from a member of a lower branch of the Fossoways to the head of a splinter house without even realizing it. He is now a knight who can stand up to his bully of cousin, has friends in high places, including Dunk's princeling squire Egg, and a beautiful new horse, Sweetfoot. Additionally, Raymun finds himself with one more stroke of luck by the end of the season.
Rowan, the new Lady Fossoway
Throughout the season, Dunk occasionally crosses paths with an unnamed sex worker played by Rowan Robinson simply credited as "Red." Since the two share a low birth, "Red" finds solidarity with Dunk, and despite mocking him throughout their first meetings, eventually comes to root for him during the trial of seven, much to the dismay of her highborn client, Ser Manfred Dondarrion (Daniel Monks).
After the trial, "Red" helps Raymun remove his armor, and one thing leads to another and the two end up sleeping together. Shortly thereafter, Raymun reveals to Dunk that "Red," whose real name is Rowan, is now his wife. Rowan has convinced Raymun that she is pregnant by him, and he doesn't seem to care at how unlikely it would be for her to know that so quickly after meeting him. The two appear to be happy together and in love.
Given that Raymun goes on to start his own branch of House Fossoway, Rowan now takes her seat as the lady of that branch. In the span of six episodes, she rose from the ranks, going from a sex worker to the head of a noble house, with a husband who seems to genuinely love and care about her.
Unlike Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms places its focus on those of lower birth, and shows how they can find success in the hierarchical world of Westeros. The most obvious example of this is, of course, Dunk, but Rowan blazes her own trail to the top as well, making her and her husband some of this season's biggest winners.
The entire first season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is now available to stream on HBO Max. Season 2 is currently in production, and is slated to premiere sometime in 2027.